Causes of Back and Neck Pain

Back and Neck Pain
Pain in the back or neck area can be acute, which comes on suddenly and intensely, or chronic, which can last for weeks, months, or even years. The pain can be continuous or intermittent.

Kyphosis
Kyphosis is a forward curvature of the spine. It is a type of spinal deformity and should not be confused with poor posture.

Low Back Pain
Low back pain can range from mild, dull, and annoying to persistent, severe, and disabling pain. Pain in the lower back can restrict mobility and interfere with normal functioning.

Lumbar Disk Disease (Herniated Disk)
Lumbar disk disease is caused by a change in the structure of a spinal disk. Most of the time, disk disease is a result of aging and the degeneration that occurs within the disk.

Neck Pain and Problems
Neck pain can result from many different causes—injury to muscles, tendons, or ligaments; arthritis; a herniated disc; or a tumor.

Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis, the most common form of arthritis, is a chronic, degenerative, joint disease that affects mostly middle-aged and older adults.

Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis causes a loss of bone mass and destruction of bone tissue. The bones most often affected are the hips, spine, and wrists.

Sciatica
Sciatica is a pain that originates along the sciatic nerve, which extends from the back of the pelvis down the back of the thigh.

Scoliosis
A spine affected by scoliosis shows a sideways curvature and a rotation of the vertebrae, giving the appearance that the person is leaning to one side.

Torticollis (Wryneck)
Torticollis is a spasm of the neck muscles. It is usually caused by vigorous movement or injury—or by sleeping in an awkward position.

What Is a Pinched Nerve?
Back pain may be caused by a pinched nerve. If you have pain, burning, or numbness, call your health care provider.

What Is Spinal Stenosis?
Spinal stenosis is a condition in which the spinal canal narrows and pinches the nerves, resulting in back and leg pain.

What to Do About a Pain in the Neck
Most neck pain is caused by sleeping on a bed that’s too soft, poor posture, stress, neck strains or degenerative joint disease that occurs when the joints of the neck become inflamed or a disc pushes outward from its normal position.

Whiplash Injury
Whiplash is an injury caused by the neck bending forcibly forward and then backward, or vice versa. The injury usually involves the muscles, discs, nerves, and tendons in the neck.